kidivingsafaris.com

Virgin shoe: Socks get family kicked of plane

zevrah — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:01:39 +0000

The airline has a strict policy requiring “anyone who can walk” to wear shoes for safety reasons and made no apology for enforcing the rule.
Karen Darley had flown from Canada with her children aged 4 and 2 and was relieved to reach Brisbane on October 18.
“I thought the hard part of the trip was over. Now we just have to get to Townsville,” Ms Darley said.
But when they went to board the 9.45am flight to Townsville she was told they could not get on the flight unless she found shoes for her son.
“He was wearing socks but I was told thongs would be more suitable,” Ms Darley said.
She was told that wearing shoes was required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Virgin Australia then agreed to put the family on another flight for no extra charge after finding a pair of shoes in lost property.
The airline claimed Ms Darley was late for that flight and missed it.
Virgin spokeswoman Emma Copeman said the airline then had to charge Ms Darley more than $800 for a new flight.
Ms Darley wants a refund from Virgin Australia for the $817.50 cost of the second flight – plus the $406.50 paid for the first flight.

Read the full article here:
Virgin shoe: Socks get family kicked of plane

Top 10 up-and-coming ski resorts

zevrah — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:58:32 +0000

Most serious skiers or snowboarders would have heard of Whistler, Vail and St Moritz, but there are plenty of emerging ski resorts competing for Australian business. SOUTH Korea has become increasingly popular over the past five years with Australian skiers looking for a destination with a difference and recently won its bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics including Alyeska Resort, Alaska ,Gulmarg, Kashmir ,Nakiska Ski Resort, Canada ,Whitefish, Montana ,Yabuli, China ,Montenegro, Europe ,Northstar-at-Tahoe, California ,Nozawa Onsen, Japan ,Ohau, New Zealand .

Read the full article here:
Top 10 up-and-coming ski resorts

Diamond-dispensing ATM launched in India

zevrah — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:40:59 +0000

GOLD ATM vending machines have been popping up all over the world this year.
So rather than follow the trend, Mumbai though it would lead the pack and become the first city in the world to launch a diamond-dispensing machine.

The Gitanjali Group, which claims to be the world’s biggest integrated manufacturer of branded jewellery, opened the machine in a luxury shopping mall in the city on Sunday and said that it already served a “substantial number of customers”.

It hopes to roll out 75 more of the ATMs – which also sell gold and silver coins – in shopping malls, airports and at Hindu temples.

Gitanjali Group chief Sanjeev Agarwal said: “The machine is a first of its kind anywhere in the world and will further revolutionise the processes by which precious metals and jewellery is bought.

“It has a particular significance in India, where usually such items are purchased as tokens to observe traditions on auspicious days.
“But it also offers choices for occasions like Valentine’s Day, or to a husband who forgot an anniversary or his wife’s birthday!”

With prices ranging from 1000 rupees ($20) to 30,000 rupees, customers can pay by cash or credit card for products ranging from gold coins etched with an image of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, to diamond-studded pendants in the shape of a swastika, which in India is an ancient religious symbol of unity.

Jammy Gagrat, a 47-year-old businessman, said: “This machine is going to be a problem for the gents. Ladies are going to keep on buying more and more every time they come here.”

All that glitters: Abu Dahbi hotel installs ATM to dispense gold bars

Extravagant: $4.5 billion gold-plated yacht brings bling to the high seas

Hidden treasure: Treasure worth billions found in Hindu temple

Read the full article here:
Diamond-dispensing ATM launched in India

Plane dreaming? Welcome to air travel in 2075

zevrah — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:13:08 +0000

The Air Travel in 2075 i.e by the end of this centry will have a magnificent Plane dreaming that allows no rush at the baggage counter,according to a report published ny U.K’s Instituition Of Mechanical Engineering. The report has unveiled a vision where aircrafts will drop you to your door step. Sramjets will fly at the rate of 5 times faster than the speed of sound.The Newyork-London trip is possible under an hour.

Read the full article here:
Plane dreaming? Welcome to air travel in 2075

Bali drug teen to face ‘relaxed’ closed trial

zevrah — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:09:56 +0000

THE Australian teenager arrested in Bali for alleged drug possession will face as relaxed trial as possible, Indonesian authorities confirmed today.
The trial could now take place as early as next week after the case was formally handed over to prosecutors yesterday.

Prosecutors have said they will continue to fast-track the legal process and hope to file the case at the Bali District Court today.

The chief prosecutor in the case, I Gusti Gede Putu Atmaja, has also said that the trial will be held in a closed court to reduce the risk of intimidating the 14-year-old, from Morisset Park near Newcastle.

Prosecutors, lawyers and even the judges will be without their robes and instead wear batik – traditional Indonesian attire – to make the court process less intimidating.

It’s understood the teenager was left shaken after the handover yesterday, during which his police escort had to force its way through a large pack of media at the High Prosecutor’s office in Denpasar.

“Is like nightmare for him like that,” his lawyer Mohammad Rifan later told reporters.

The events at the High Prosecutor’s office were repeated again later as the teenager was escorted to a waiting car at another office, where he was presented with some of the evidence against him, including a bag containing 3.6 grams of marijuana he was allegedly arrested with on October 4.

While Indonesian authorities continue to fast-track the case, in Australia, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has again cautioned it would still take “some time” to resolve the matter.

“We respect Indonesia’s laws and will continue to work with the Indonesian legal processes,” he said.

The teenager, who has been in custody in Bali for more than three weeks, is expected to remain at an immigration facility in Jimbaran during the trial process.

He was moved to the facility on Saturday following intervention from senior officials in Jakarta, including Indonesia’s Minister for Law and Human Rights Amir Syamsuddin.

“We are also grateful for the intervention by the Indonesian authorities to ensure the boy has been held in appropriate detention facilities,” Mr Rudd said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/bali-drug-teen-to-face-relaxed-closed-trial-authorities-say/story-e6frfq80-1226177179342#ixzz1brw8Haz0

Read the full article here:
Bali drug teen to face ‘relaxed’ closed trial

Mile-high stakes as union calls off strikes

zevrah — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:06:13 +0000

Mr Purvinas also hoped the move would generate some good will at the bargaining table.
In Queanbeyan this morning at a solar design factory, Ms Gillard urged Qantas management and Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association to resolve the dispute.
n estimated 60,000 Qantas passengers have been affected by a series of rolling strikes by engineers and ground crews.

Read the full article here:
Mile-high stakes as union calls off strikes

Gateway to hell: The most amazing volcanoes

zevrah — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:11:48 +0000

From the Italian coastline to the islands of PNG or the snow-capped mountains of Iceland, Lonely Planet has compiled a list of the top 10 places to watch the earth blow its top.
Up north and a volcano that was once believed to be the Gateway to Hell, has since given a less doom-inspiring title by Icelanders. The name of Hekla means the “Hooded One” and refers to the peak’s everlasting cap of cloud.

Read the full article here:
Gateway to hell: The most amazing volcanoes

Best resignation ever? Hotel worker quits… with a band

zevrah — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:03:06 +0000

Just like his dream, the video shows Mr De Francesco, 23, turning up at the hotel one evening with a 19-piece brass band in tow, before handing his letter to a very unimpressed-looking manager and walking out to a fanfare of trumpeting horns and trombones.
A general manager at the hotel, Angelo De Peri, confirmed that Mr De Francesco did resign in late August.

Read the full article here:
Best resignation ever? Hotel worker quits… with a band

Mansion on wheels: $2.9m pimped-up motorhome

zevrah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:09:30 +0000

MANSIONS are so last season, now you can buy your very own palace on wheels with a cool bonus – it glows in the dark.
The world’s most expensive campervan the eleMMent palazzo has gone up for sale for a whopping $2.9 million.
Pictures: World’s most expensive motorhome
The 12m-long extravaganza designed by Austrian company Marchi Mobile features an ensuite master bedroom, pop-up roof terrace, underfloor heating and a bar.
Aside from its impressive master bedroom (did we mention there’s a 102 centimetre flatscreen TV inside?), the vehicle also boasts a rainfall shower, separate toilet, lounge and driver’s cab complete with bunk bed.

Read the full article here:
Mansion on wheels: $2.9m pimped-up motorhome

Fix strike or we’ll fix it for you, says Labor

zevrah — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:13:52 +0000

Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association Secretary Steve Purvinas framed the move, effective immediately, as a challenge to Qantas to return to a full flight schedule.

Mr Purvinas said if all grounded Qantas planes were not back in the air, the airline could no longer blame the union for disruptions.

“The Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association are here today to say our protected action is all called off for a period of three weeks,” Mr Purvinas said today.

Read the full article here:
Fix strike or we’ll fix it for you, says Labor